The Last God #7: Giving People Hope

After a brief break due to the state of the world, The Last God returns with issue #7, conveniently kicking off a brand new arc following the epic yet devastating events in issue #6. With a return to character-driven drama, the story finds it’s footing once more by inching closer to defeating Mol Uhltep.

There’s no denying that The Last God is an impressively expansive usage of the comics medium. As we enter the second arc, the world of Cain Anuun has grown nearly exponentially and the depth of lore is just astounding. The Age of Olvargolad and the Age of Tyrgolad strike a delicate and enjoyable balance in The Last God #7 that is arguably one of the most straightforward issues of the series. The complexities of the intertwining narratives can sometimes be a bit confusing even for the seasoned readers, but this issue finds a way to blend both of the groups of characters spread across time in a really cohesive way.

If there is one thing that is made clear here, it’s that Tyr is absolutely not someone to root for even before becoming such a monstrosity. Despite the Age of Tyrgolad taking much of the focus to push the story forward with Queen Cyanthe leading, it’s the revelations that come from 30 years prior that give depth and substance to the issue. Haakon and the use of the Fey is a wonderful new addition to the lore of Cain Anuun and they enter the story at a very welcome time. Following the epic battle that took place in the last issue, it’s great to find such strong direction as the series enters it’s back half and builds towards an exhilarating finale.

This issue is all about character development, from naming “the Ursulon” to the awful moments at Tyr’s camp. This is an issue that plays on the dynamics of the two different groups spread throughout time, pushing them in new directions to take the story in interesting new directions. It could have easily been a filler issue, coming in at halfway through the series and just kicking off a “new arc” following the action-packed events of last issue, but instead, it finds surprising focus in the more intimate character moments.

The visuals are once more just as impressive as the rest of the series. It’s almost impossible to find complaints about the artwork in The Last God and issue #7 is no different. The pacing, landscapes and even dialogue are all very strong and help to pull you into the world deeper and deeper. It’s fantasy horror artwork done right. Though it may not be quite as exciting as The Last God #6, it’s important to remember that these moments are the ones that define how the struggle for Cain Anuun’s safety will play out. We see scheming and positioning between the two different groups depicted with great precision and tact to develop the overarching story without either giving too much away or too little.

Issue after issue I remain surprised at just how good The Last God really is. I’ve kept most of my reviews limited to the actual comic pages, but that really is only a part of what makes the series work so well. The nuance that can be found when connecting the additional lore found at the end of every issue into what’s happening in the main story adds so much depth to the story that it’s difficult to describe. The Last God #7 might work better when following all of the additional texts, and it’s arguably the first issue to demand that knowledge a little more than the rest, especially as the stories behind Lord Ruarc grow more important.

Overall, The Last God #7 is a strong and necessary continuation of the overarching story that finds it’s greatest success in scaling back on the epic high fantasy just slightly and focusing on intimate character development. It’s dark, perilous and even sometimes gut wrenching, but it’s a magnificent story and continues to use the comics medium arguably better than any other series available today.